Short answer
Among Acura MDX model years through 2024, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2003 and 2005 have the most (11). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Acura MDX: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 25 (2001–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 44
- Fewest recalls
- 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2003 and 2005 (11)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (46)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2011, 2014, 2015 and 10 more years
Acura MDX Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | 5 stars | Air bags |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 4 | 5 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Equipment |
| 2024 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2023 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2022 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2020 | 8 | 5 stars | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2019 | 9 | 5 stars | Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Air bags |
| 2018 | 10 | 5 stars | Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, Exterior lighting |
| 2017 | 9 | 5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Air bags, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2016 | 7 | 5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting |
| 2015 | 8 | 5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Equipment, Exterior lighting |
| 2014 | 8 | 5 stars | Equipment, Exterior lighting, Forward collision avoidance |
| 2013 | 1 | 4 stars | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2012 | 1 | 4 stars | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2011 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2010 | 1 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2009 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2008 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2007 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2006 | 9 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Equipment |
| 2005 | 11 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2004 | 8 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2003 | 11 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2002 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Power train |
| 2001 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Power train, Suspension |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20261 recall
- 20254 recalls
- 20243 recalls
- 20233 recalls
- 20223 recalls
- 20208 recalls
- 20199 recalls
- 201810 recalls
- 20179 recalls
- 20167 recalls
- 20158 recalls
- 20148 recalls
- 20131 recall
- 20121 recall
- 20110 recalls
- 20101 recall
- 20090 recalls
- 20080 recalls
- 20070 recalls
- 20069 recalls
- 200511 recalls
- 20048 recalls
- 200311 recalls
- 20024 recalls
- 20014 recalls
Acura MDX: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Acura MDX recalls are air bags (46), fuel system, gasoline (15), electrical system (8), engine and engine cooling (8) and suspension (8). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 15 of these 25 model years, and 2011, 2014, 2015 and 10 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Acura MDX Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Acura MDX?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Acura MDX model years have the most recalls?
2003 and 2005 have the most, with 11 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "MDX", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy